Concrete pump



Sept. 3, 1935. c. F. BALL 2,012,944

I CONCRETE PUMP Filed Jan. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 3, 1935. c. F. BALL I CONCRETE PUMP Filed Jan. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 3, 1935 A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,012,944 CONCRETE PUMP Charles F. Ball, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to.

Chain Belt Company, notation of Wisconsin Application .lanuary 16,

Milwaukee, Wis., a cor- 1933, Serial No. 652,076

Claims. (01. 103-204) meeting such a restriction to effectively prevent reverse movement thereof.

In pumps of this type there is thus always present a more or less open, passageway whether the valve be in fully open position or in fully restricting position, and the pumps are of course incapable of efiiciently handling liquids, since these would freely flow back and forth through the valves, even when the latter were in their most nearly closed positions. On the other hand it is highly desirable at certain times to be able to pump water, for example, with such a pump, for the purpose of forcing the same through the discharge line or sections thereof to remove adhering portions of the mixture.

It is the principal object of the present invention therefore to provide simple and efiective means whereby pumps of this character which heretofore have been incapable of pumping clean water may be quickly and readily enabled to do so. i

A further object of the invention is to provide means for thus converting the concrete pump into a liquid pump and vice versa, which may be readily put in place and removed, so as not to interfere with the proper functioning of the normal concrete handling valves.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a set of supplemental liquid valves which may be readily introduced into the pump and removed therefrom without'removing or in any .way interfering .with the concrete handling, 1

valves, and which when in place will automatically function independently of such concrete handling valves to enable the pump to efliciently handle liquids which are passed through. the concrete handling valves, thereby efi'ectively flushing and cleaning the latter.

With the above and other objects in. view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinaiter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate like parts in all the views:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, more orless diagrammatic, of one form oficoncrete pump to 5 which the present invention may be applied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, through the inlet and outlet passages and valves of the pump shown in Figure 1, and illustrating the supplementary or auxiliary v liquid handling valves in operative positions relative to the concrete handling valves;

Figure 3 is atop plan view of the complete liquid handling valve structure employed in the inlet passage of the pump; 1

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the valve structure shown in Figure 3 taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of the latter figure;

' Figure 5 is a detail side elevational view of the valve and valve housing shown in Figures 3 and 4; and I Figure 6 is a bottom plan view partly broken away of the parts shown in Figure Referring more particularly to Figure 1 the concrete pump there shown comprises a base member ID which carries a cylinder H within which is reciprocably mounted a piston I2 adapted to be moved backandforth within the said cylinder by means of a connecting rod l3 operated by a crank mechanism, not shown, which in turn is driven from an internal combustion engine or other prime mover located within the housing [4. The cylinder H has communicating with it an inlet passage l5, see Figure 2, which passage is 5 controlled by a valve I 6, here shown as of the oscillating plug type. A feed hopper ll surmounts the valve l6 and is adapted to feed concrete or other analogous plastic mixture to the passage I8 of the said valve.

The valve plug H] is of somewhat smaller diameter than the interior of the housing of the valve [6 to provide a clearance 20 between the parts which clearance, while not objectionable but in fact beneficial, so far as the concrete mixture is concerned, tends to render the valve ineflicient in so far as the handling of liquids is concerned. The plug I9 is furthermore provided with a passage 2l which in the open position of the valve is arranged to align with the passages 18 and which in the most restricted position is moved only to a point substantially as indicated in Figure 2 in which the solid portions 22 of the plug failto completely cut oil communication through the valve but leave an open, although restricted let valve it which is similar in construction to the inlet valve l3, and the corresponding elements of which have been designated by the primes of the corresponding reference characters, It has been assumed in Figure 2'that the piston if of the pump is making a pressure stroke, and the valve plug it of the outlet valve has consequently been shown in the fully open position, while the plug it of inlet valve i6 is illustrated in its most restrictive position.

The outlet valve 16' discharges into -a short section of pipe 3|, the outer end of which ls-provided with a suitable detachable pipe coupling here shown as comprising a pair of lateral ears 3!, and a pair of wedges'33, which may be employed for wedging the flange of the first section of the discharge pipe 34 into place'in cooperative relation with the short section 3|, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the In. order to render the pumping mechanism Just described eifective for the handling of wash water, for the purpose of cleaning out the discharge line, there is provided a supplemental inlet valve structure best shown in Figures 2 to 8 inclusive. This structure comprises a disk or similar, member 35 provided with an axial bore 36 into which is pressed or otherwise rigidly secured the cage or housing member 31 of the valve proper. The said cage is provided with a valve seat 38 adapted to coact with the complementary surface of the valve disk 39, which latter may be provided with the spider for guiding it within the said housing. The housing is provided with a pair of depending legs 4| which are recessed as at'43 to receive the cars 43 of a cupshaped member 44 which serves as a seat and hous ing for a helical spring 43 which normally urges the valve disk 33 to closed position against its seat 33, as will be readily understood from Figure 4. The ears 43 are preferably provided with the I perpendicular lugs 48 which engage one side of the legs 4! to prevent arcuate movement of the ears in the-recesses 42 in one direction, while movement in the'opposite direction may be prevented byscrews 41 received in bosses 48 provided on the said ears and which screws engage with the opposite sides of the said legs 4!. A screen or strainer 43 may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the cage member 31, substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

A pair of bolts Ill (see Figures 3 and 4) extend downwardly through the disk member 35 and their lower threaded ends engage a follower disk which latter is provided with a plurality of recesses 32 serving as seats for coil springs 53. A leather, rubber or other yielding cupped packing I4 is interposed between the disk and the follower II and the outer circumference of the said follower ii is preferably beveled or tapered, as clearly shown in Figure 4, so that as.

the follower is drawn up toward the disk 35 through rotation of the bolts. 30, the annular flange 55 of the packing member will be spread outwardly, as will be readily understood. Such movement of the follower ii of course is against the compression of the springs 53, which latter serve to move the follower downwardly again I when the bolts 50 are backed ofl, thus permitting the flange of the packing to contract.

When it is desired to use the pump for pumping water or the like, a supplemental valve struc- 1 ture such as has been just described is introduced into the upper inlet passage i8 of the inlet valve I6 by inserting it through the hopper I 1 until I ment of the valve assemblyinto place. Thereafter the bolts 50 are turned to draw the follower 5l upwardly and thus expand the flange '55 of the packing. member 54 against the wall of the passage l8 and thus provide a liquid tight joint between the valve assembly and the said wall. A pair of plugs 8| are also preferably screwed into apertures 62 provided in the wall of the base member of the hopper l1, said plugs having extensions 63 which engage with the upper surface of the disk member 35 and prevent the valve assembly from being forced outwardly on the pressure stroke of the pump piston.

Upon operation of the piston in 'the normal way, if water instead of plastic mixture be introduced into the hopper l1, upon the suction stroke of the piston, during which the valve plug It is inwide open position, the suction created by the piston will unseat the valve 39 against the pressure of its spring 45 and permit the water from the hopper I! to be drawn through the passages is, 21 and i5 into the cylinder ll. At the completion of the suction stroke the valve 39 will be reseated as the piston begins its pressure stroke and the water which has been drawn into the cylinder will be forced out through the port 30, passages 18', 2 l and the pipe section 3 I. The water is thus passed through all chambers and passages of the pump, including the concrete handling valves I6 and I3, and through the discharge line 34, effectively flushing the same and removing all adhering portions of the plastic mixture. At the completion of the flushing operation the plug members 6| are removed, bolts are backed off and the water valve elevated out of the hopper whereupon after replacing the plugs BI the pump may be operated in its normal manner as a concrete pump. A pair of eye-bolts 65 may be provided in the disk member 35 to facilitate the placement and removal of the inlet valve assembly as will be readily understood.

The same sort of water valve assembly may be employed in the outlet line but it is preferred to use a slightly diflerent construction, such as that illustrated at the left of Figure 2. That is to say, the disk 38 in this instance is welded or otherwise rigidly secured within one'end of sleeve 10, which other parts illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, are in by means of the wedges 33 and ears 32 above mentioned. The water forced through the outlet valve IB' and the pipe section 3| will pass the valve 39, which is opened against the pressure of the spring 45, and flow through the pipe I2 and into the discharge conduit sections, as will be readily understood. The conduit 34 is usually flushed in its assembled condition, although if necessary or desirable the sections may be dismantled and flushed one at a time. After the flushing operation is completed the outlet valve assembly may likewise be removed from the position shown in Figure 2 and the discharge conduit connected up to pipe 3|, whereupon the pump will function as an ordinary concrete pump.

In some instances it may be found desirable to omit the valve spring 45 and permit the valve 39 to function as a gravity controlled check valve which is normally open, and which is closed solely through the action of the water on the pressure stroke of the pump piston. This will avoid the formation of air pockets in the pump.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction as well as the precise arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore it is not wished to be limited to the above disclosure except as may be required by the claims.

What I claim is:

1. Means for facilitating the washing of the elements of a concrete pump of the type having a pressure member, mixture passages, and valves which are inherently incapable of efliciently pumping ordinary fluids, comprising additional valve means capable of eificiently handling washing fluids, removably positioned in and controlling the mixture passages of the apparatus, whereby washing fluid may be circulated therethrough by means of the pressure member of the pump.

2. Mechanism for facilitating the washing of the elements of a concrete pump and connections, said pump having a pressure member, in-

let and outlet passages and valve means which are inherently incapable of efliciently handling washing fluids controlling said passages, said mechanism comprising an additional set of valves capable of efficiently handling washing fiuids,.removably positioned in and controlling said inlet and outlet passages Without removal of said first named valve means, whereby washing fluid may be circulated through the passages, connections. and the concrete handling valves of the pump,

by means of the pressure member of the pump.

3. Mechanism for facilitating the washing of the elements of a concrete pump and connections, said pump being of the type having a pressure member, inlet and outlet passages, and valves controlling said passages which are inherently incapable of efficiently pumping washing liquids, comprising supplemental valve structures capable of efficiently handling washing liquids, removably positioned in the inlet and outlet passages respectively ahead of and beyond the inlet and outlet concrete-handling valves, whereby the latter valves may be cleaned by washing liquid circulated through the pump by means of the pressure member thereof.

4. Mechanism for facilitating the washing of' the elements of a concrete pump of the type having a mixture passage and a concrete handling valve which is inherently incapable of efiieiently handling washing liquids, comprising a supplemental valve structure capable of efiiciently handling washing liquids, arranged ,to be removably positioned in said mixture passage of the pump. said structure including an expansible packing member, a follower, and means for moving said follower to expand said packing member and thereby provide a liquid-tight joint between the valve structure and the wall of the mixture passage.

5. Mechanism for facilitating the washing of the elements of a concrete pump of the type having a mixture passage, and a concrete handling valve which is inherently incapable of efiiciently handling washing liquids, comprising a supplemental valve structure capable of eiiiciently handling washing liquids, arranged to be removably positioned in said mixture passage of the pump; and means engageable with the wall of said passage for positively retaining said structure in place against unintentional displacement.

CHARLES F. BALL. 

